CMC is regionally accredited (the strictest level). Some programs have specialized accreditation, too.
Accreditation Is a Guarantee
Copper Mountain College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 331 J Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.
ACCJC is an accrediting organization that accredits two-year education programs in the western U.S. and Pacific islands.
Accreditation is a voluntary system that evaluates a school’s effectiveness. ACCJC’s process guarantees to you that a college meets the organization’s standards, which are:
- The education you earn is valuable
- The credentials you receive are legitimate
ACCJC-accredited schools exist to help you succeed. We are a non-profit, public entity. We serve you and the community by giving you the best education and resources as possible. We’re always improving our ability to provide a worthwhile education. We evaluate and improve our methods continually. Everything we invest and do is for your benefit.
Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at the ACCJC website.
Student Complaints
Most complaints, grievances, or disciplinary matters should be resolved at the campus level. It’s the quickest and most successful way of resolving issues involving a California Community College (CCC). Information about complaint processes and points of contact can be found on the complaint process page.
You are encouraged to work through the campus complaint process first before escalating issues to any of the following resources.
If your complaint is associated with academic program quality and accreditation standards, or your issues can’t be resolved on the campus level, you may present your issues to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).
If you have a complaint regarding discrimination, please contact the Chancellor’s Office legal division. You can also complete a form on the Chancellor’s Office web page for other complaints.
Specific programs are also overseen by external agencies. The links below provide information about agencies where students can submit programmatic complaints.
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Registered Nursing
This program is authorized by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). If you have an issue, it’s recommended you try to resolve the issue locally before filing a complaint.
If you want to learn more about the agency or submit a complaint about CMC’s program, contact the agency at www.rn.ca.gov.
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Vocational Nursing
This program is authorized by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT). If you have an issue, please try to solve the issue locally before filing a complaint.
If you want to learn more about the agency or to submit a complaint about CMC’s program, contact the agency at www.bvnpt.ca.gov.
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Home Health Aide
This program is authorized by the California Department of Public Health (NA and HHA). If you have an issue, please try to solve the issue locally before filing a complaint.
If you want to learn more about the agency or to submit a complaint about CMC’s program, contact the agency at https://www.cdph.ca.gov.
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Emergency Medical Technician
This program is authorized by the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA). If you have an issue, please try to solve the issue locally before filing a complaint.
To learn more about the agency or to submit a complaint about CMC’s program, contact the agency at https://www.sbcounty.gov/icema.
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Automotive
This program is authorized by the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation (NATEF) /ASE Education (ASE). If you have an issue, please try to solve the issue locally before filing a complaint.
To learn more about the agency or to submit a complaint about CMC’s program, contact ASE Education.
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Fire Technology
This program follows the standards that meet the National Fire Academy & Emergency Service Higher Education (FESHE) core curriculum requirements and include those accredited by the California Fire Service Training and Educational System (CFSTES) for State Board of Fire Technology Certification.
If you have an issue with the program, you must resolve the complaint locally. For more information about the curriculum contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal State Fire Training.
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges Complaint Process
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Complaints Against Member Institutions
Students and members of the public who desire to file a formal complaint to the Commission about one of its member institutions should become familiar with the requirements for doing so prior to contacting the Commission.
If you want to file a formal complaint to the Commission about any member institution, please understand the requirements before filing at the Complaint Process link on the ACCJC site.
The Policy on Student and Public Complaints Against Institutions may be found at the Student and Public Complaints Against Institutions page of the ACCJC website.
After understanding the requirements for filing complaints, and your complaint meets those requirements, then you are welcome to file a complaint which may be found on the Complaints Against Member Institutions page.
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Complaints Against the Commission
If you want to file a formal complaint to the Commission about the ACCJC, then you should become familiar with the requirements of filing a complaint before doing so.
The Commission’s Policy on filing a Complaint against the ACCJC can be found on the Complaint Process page of the ACCJC website. It explains the issues the Commission can address and the procedures for filing a complaint.
The Policy on Complaints Against the ACCJC may be found at: Policy on Review Complaints Against the ACCJC (Rev-Sept-2016) PDF.
The complaint form may be found at Complaints Against the ACCJC (PDF) .
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Third Party Comments
If you want to make a comment on the institutions that are undergoing a review in the current semester and that are being considered by the Commission at its next meeting, you should use the Third-Party Comments form.
Be sure to include their name, address, phone number, and email address. The comments must be received five weeks before the scheduled Commission meeting.
If you have questions, please email mschiel@cmccd.edu.